Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin

 

Antara – Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands of South Australia

 

 

Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair

 

‘Our art is living’ is a sentiment shared by the indigenous artists in Australia. Some of their communities have a cultural continuum for their country reaching back 70,000 years. They believe that the collective unconscious nature of their images is energetic to geometric and motif form and these same motifs have held a story of meaning throughout the ages and still carry a resonance.

DAAFF ( Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation) encourages and assists with professional development opportunities and promotion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and arts workers in a broad range of artistic activities; (including visual arts, dance, music, fashion, storytelling and culture) It is the only event of its kind that brings together Indigenous owned Art Centres from across Australia. The annual exhibition becomes a mecca for aboriginal art sourced from diverse communities that exhibit their traditional arts and contemporary works. A rich collection of beautiful art, inspired by the country’s most remote desert and coastal regions, combined with rural and urban communities, is on display.

The unique art fair provides a wonderful opportunity to purchase artwork directly from nearly seventy Indigenous owned community Art Centres while participating in numerous live performances. Below are some of their art from the recent 2018 Art Fair.

 

Tjanpi artist Niningka Lewis from Pukatja SA, who has been selected as a finalist in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art AwardsImage by Rhett Hammerton.

Tjanpi artist Niningka Lewis from Pukatja SA,  Tjanpi Desert Weavers

Image by Rhett Hammerton.

 

Judy Manany Gurruwiwi — Echo island

 

As an example of the depth in the indigenous arts, Judy Manany Gurruwiwi is an accomplished artist working from Elcho Island Arts. She is daughter of Mithinarri Gurruwiwi, a very well-known bark painter who she was very close to. “My clan is Galpu & my Moiety is Dhuwa. I learnt to make art from my father who I assisted from when I was 10 years old. I make string bags, weaving, spears, hollow logs, painting, carving, yidaki and womera. I paint my totems which are python, file snake (freshwater snake), water lilies & bidum (a type of fish). The dots in my work are Dhuwa patterns which represent the rainbow and file snake. The cross hatch patterns represent fresh water. I started making soft sculpture animals in 2008. I experimented with new ways of weaving to make fish, turtles, camp dog, piggy, pussy cat, owl.” (see above)

Some of the Indigenous communities and their Art Centers are in proximity to their dreaming sites and included below are photos that show their surrounding landscapes.

 

 

Alison Milyka Carrol-here-with-Lynette Lewis

Alison Milyka Carrol with daughter Lynette Lewis

 

 

Antara, a pair of prominent rockholes aligned in parallel that mark the passage of creator beings. Located in the remote Everard Ranges of northern South Australia, the rock formation looks like the outstretched fingers of a giant hand.

 

Tuppy Goodwin, ‘Antara’ 2017, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 124 x 125 cm

Alcaston Gallery

 

Antara is a sacred place for Anangu. It holds many tjukurpa (songlines) stories that cross this land. This painting depicts this special place. Antara has a very important rockhole where the women would perform inmaku pakani, a dance ceremony that would create enough food for everyone. The painting also depicts the landscape which is surrounded with rocks, rockholes, creeks and mountains.

 

 

Ann Carmel Mulvien's Lotus Pods fabric design at Merrepen Festival

Ann Carmel Mulvien’s Lotus Pods fabric design

Babbarra Women’s Centre

 

Ernabella Arts_pukatja pottery ceramic vessel

Ernabella Arts – Pukatja pottery ceramic vessel

 

 

 

 

Aboriginal dancer Germain DeRose from @iwantja_art

Aboriginal dancer Germain DeRose

Iwantija Art

 

 

 

Tjala King and Queen. Mick Wikilyiri and Paniny Mick, with Micks beautiful works at their Art Centre @tjalaarts

 Mick Wikilyiri and Paniny Mick, with Micks work at their Art Centre @tjalaarts

 

 

kaltjitiartsMr-indigenous artist - Witjiti-George

Kaltjitiarts indigenous artist  Witjiti George

 

 

Fabric design by two Wurrkidj sisters depicting the stories and manme (bush food) from their country near their Mumeka homeland.

Babbarra Women’s Centre

 

 

Tuppy-Goodwin---Antara--2017

Tuppy Goodwin—‘Antara’

2017

 

Bábbarra women walking the Injalak Rock Art tour Australia

Bábbarra women walking the Injalak Rock Art tour which features Injalak Hill, a superb sandstone monolith, surrounded by flood plains.

GunblanyaNorthern Territory 

 

 

Baluk Arts, Artist Kirsty Bell, Woven Kelp Basket with, Raffia, Cotton, 2017

Artist Kirsty Bell, Woven Kelp Basket with, Raffia and Cotton

Baluk Arts, 2017

 

Baluk Arts –  an urban Aboriginal community arts centre based in Mornington, Victoria.

 

 

Baluk Arts - Dominic Bramall White - Ceramic Coolomon - 2017 - Ceramic with Ochre

 Dominic Bramall White – Ceramic with ochre ‘Coolomon’

Baluk Arts  – 2017

 

Beth Inkamala Mbitjana Art Centre--Hermannsburg Potters

Beth Inkamala Mbitjana — Art Centre,  Hermannsburg Potters, NT

 

 

Cameron Young from @tjalaarts dancing the Kulata inma

 

Iwantja Arts

 

Indigenous painting-Betty Kuntiwa Pumani

Indigenous painting – Betty Kuntiwa Pumani

APY Art Centre Collective

 

 

Cissy Umbagai with her Wandjina puppets

Cissy Umbagai with her Wandjina puppets

 

 

DAAFF 2017 Fashion Show, Forkleaf Collection featuring Warlukurlangu Artists, Photo by Murray Hilton

 Forkleaf Collection featuring Warlukurlangu Artists, Photo by Murray Hilton

DAAFF 2017 Fashion Show

 

 

Emily-Andy Napaltjarri aboriginal dot art

Emily Andy Napaltjarri aboriginal dot art

 

 

DAAFF-2017-Fashion-Show,-Photo-by-Grace-Lillian-Lee-Designer--Publisher-Textiles-Art-Centre-Babbarra

DAAFF 2017 Fashion Show, Photo by Grace Lillian Lee

Textiles Art Centre Babbarra

 

 

 

exhibition-by Anangu mother daughter duo-Puna Yanima and Linda Puna

Painting by Anangu mother daughter duo Puna Yanima and Linda Puna

 

 

Tiwi_Designs-Thomas_Munkanome-Cockatoos-ironwood_and_natural_ochre-2017

Thomas Munkanome Cockatoos ironwood and natural ochre

Tiwi Designs — 2017

 

 

ceramic ovoid vase -- Derek Jungarrayi Thompson from @ernabella_arts_pukatjapottery

Derek Jungarrayi Thompson serpent vase @ernabella arts Pukatja pottery

 

 

gapuwiyakcultureandartsANKA-meet-up-Katherine-gorge

Gapuwiyak culture and arts – ANKA meet up Katherine Gorge

 

 

Lucy Malirrimurruwuy Wanapuyngu with her daughters and grand daughters collecting pandanus near Gapuwiyak. Photo- Trevor van Weeren

Lucy Malirrimurruwuy Wanapuyngu with her daughters and grand daughters collecting pandanus near Gapuwiyak

Photo- Trevor van Weeren

 

 

Charmaine Ashley mat Gapuwiyak culture and arts, Garrinbi 

Charmaine Ashley mat

 

 

Gapuwiyak culture and arts Garrinbi  Anna Ramatha Malibirr

Anna Ramatha Malibirr

 

Gapuwiyak culture and arts Bulpu weaving

Gapuwiyak culture and arts Garrinbi – weave baskets

Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts is a community owned Arts Centre based at Gapuwiyak in Arnhem land, specializing in fibre art.

 

gapuwiyak culture and arts Garrinbi -- St Andrews Cross spider by Harry Malibirr

Carved wood St Andrews Cross spider by Harry Malibirr

Gapuwiyak culture and arts Garrinbi

 

 

Gapuwiyak culture and arts Johnny Warrkatja painting

Gapuwiyak culture and arts — Johnny Warrkatja painting

 

 

Hand-painted-ceramic-works-by-Beamo-#balukarts

Ceramic bowl by Beamo-#balukarts

 

 

Haasts Bluff is situated in the middle of the spectacular West Macdonnell Ranges!

Haasts Bluff, situated in the middle of the West Macdonnell Ranges

 

 

Ikuntji Artists-Gordon Butcher-Vaughn Springs Pikylili-Acrylic_on_Canvas-2016

 Gordon Butcher -‘Vaughn Springs Pikylili’ – Acrylic on Canvas

Ikuntji Artists, 2016

 

 

Haasts Bluff oasisi

Haasts Bluff oasis, NT

 

 

 

Ikuntji artists photo by Signature Gallery - Belgium

Ikuntji Artists of Haasts Bluff amongst the red MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia near Alice Springs.

photo by Signature Gallery

 

 

Hermannsburg pottersYorta Yorta Man-(Jimmy Little)-by Dawn Ngala Wheeler

‘Yorta Yorta Man-(Jimmy Little)’ by Dawn Ngala Wheeler

Hermannsburg potters

 

 

ikuntjiartistsAnother-beautiful-Sunset in the Western Desert

‘Sunset in the Western Desert’ photo – Ikuntji Artists

 

 

Kaiela Arts Eric Brown-Emu Sands-Acrylic on Canvas-2017--Sheperton

Kaiela Arts Eric Brown – ‘Emu Sands’

Acrylic on Canvas-2017–Sheperton

 

 

 

ikuntji artists -- Gordon Butcher's design of bush flowers

Ikuntji Artists — Gordon Butcher’s design of bush flowers

 

 

Ikuntj iartists Haasts Bluff-has many beautiful spots

Haasts Bluff – Ikuntji artists

 

 

An ikuntji artist with a found Dingo puppy

An Ikuntji artist with a found Dingo puppy

 

 

ikuntji artists Storm brewing over the desert!

‘Storm brewing over the desert’ – Ikuntji artists

Painting is by Tilly Napaltjarri about her dog Dreaming – Ikuntji artists

 

 

Western Desert transformed by rain -- Ikuntji artists

Western Desert transformed by rain — Ikuntji artists

 

 

Judith Pungkarta Inkamala- from #hermannsburgpotters on exhibition

Judith Pungkarta Inkamala from #hermannsburgpotters

 

 

 

Jules Galliers-what a way to start the day

Jules Galliers – ‘what a way to start the day’

(Mount Wedge on horizon)

 

 

Kathy Inkamala landscape painting

Kathy Inkamala landscape painting

 

 

Keringke Arts-Feature_Artwork-June Pengart Smith Head Acrylic on ceramic-2017

June Pengart Smith Head – Acrylic on ceramic

Keringke Arts 2017

 

 

Lyerrtjina (budgerigar)-2016-by-#hermannsburgpottery-⭐️-Judith Pungkarta Inkamala

‘Lyerrtjina (budgerigar)’ Judith Pungkarta Inkamala

2016 Hermannsburg

 

 

Marina Pumani Brown – Mimili Maku Arts — APY Gallery

 

 

Marrawuddi Gallery-Feature_Artwork-Irene Henry Karnamarr (Black_Cockatoo)-Ochre_and_Acrylic_on_Ironwood-2018

Irene Henry Karnamarr ‘Black Cockatoo’ – Ochre and Acrylic on Ironwood

Marrawuddi Gallery 2018

 

 

Merrepen arts New-Painting by Anne Carmel Mulvien Lillypads

Painting by Anne Carmel Mulvien ‘Lillypads’

 

 It offers a striking salute to traditional plant-based foods, especially those found in abundance in the billabongs and wetlands surrounding the Daly River

Merrepen arts

 

 

Mick Wikilyiri giving his canvas two thumbs up-Mick! @apy_ac_collective-@alcaston_gallery

Mick Wikilyiri giving his canvas two thumbs up- Mick! @apy ac collective

Alcaston Gallery

 

 

Manitjanu Lennon indigenous artist

Manitjanu Lennon

 

 

alcaston_galleryRupert Jack, Maku Maku, 2016, hand built stoneware, 46 x 25 cm. Peter Mungkuri, Ngurra (Country), 2016

Rupert Jack, ‘Maku Maku’, 2016, hand built stoneware vessel, 46 x 25 cm.

Jack’s enigmatic pots use the clay surface as the palimpsest upon which to place his unique take on the traditional stories and legends from his community at Ernabella

Painting in background — Peter Mungkuri, ‘Ngurra (Country)’, 2016

Alcaston Gallery

 

MIART-Amanda Gabori-DIBIRDIBI SCALES-ACRYLIC ON LINEN-2010 Mirnidyan Gununa is the Aboriginal Arts and Culture Centre on Mornington Island

MIART Amanda Gabori – ‘Dibirdibi Scales’

Acrylic on linen – 2010

at Mirnidyan Gununa – the Aboriginal Arts and Culture Centre on Mornington Island

 

 

 

On-the-roadtrip-to-papunya-at the end of the rainbow-#papunyatjup

On the roadtrip to Papunya at the end of the rainbow-#papunyatjup

 

 

Palka Karrinya-sacred shard Mount Wedge

‘Palka Karrinya’ – 37 foot tall sacred shard, located at the entrance to a gorge at Mount Wedge

Pulka Karrinya has one of the biggest rock-hole water reservoirs for many hundreds of miles around and represents an important epicentre for many story lines at Karrinyarra.

 

 

Papunya Tjupi Arts Doris Bush, Tjurrpinyi Ikuntji, 2015 Aboriginal painting

Papunya Tjupi Arts Doris Bush, Tjurrpinyi Ikuntji, 2015

 

Ray Ken draws on his traditional Anangu knowledge of land and law with striking linear compositions.

 exhibition For Country: for Nation 2017

 

 

Rona Rubuntja Panangka - Erraarnta (red-tailed black cockatoo), terracotta and underglaze, 2017 Hermannsburg Potters

Rona Rubuntja Panangka – ‘Erraarnta’ (red-tailed black cockatoo), terracotta and underglaze

2017 Hermannsburg Potters

 

 

kaltjiti arts Stunning-work-in-progress--by-senior-artist-Mrs-Lennon

Kaltjiti arts senior artist Mrs Lennon

 

 

\Ruby Williamson lartist-and-incredible woman from Tjala Arts located in Amata community,

Left: Ruby Williamson  from Tjala Arts located in Amata community Right: Roger Federer shopping for Aboriginal art

 

Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken indigenous painting

Dot painting by Sylvia Kanytjupai Ken

 

Russell Crowe meets-cultural Gladiator-Ray Ken-@tjalaarts

Russell Crowe meets Ray Ken @tjalaarts

 

 

Teresa Baker---Minyma Malilunya-2017

Teresa Baker— ‘Minyma Malilunya’

2017

 

 

 APY Art Centre Collective

 

 

 

Pupanya art - The Dance

Karrinyarra Artists – The Dance

 

stoneware-pots-of-Pepai-Jangala-Carroll-offer-more-from-each-new-angle--APY-collective

Stoneware pots of Pepai Jangala Carroll

 

 

rock art -by-@tjungu_palya_arts--Beryl-Jimmy

Rock art  by Beryl Jimmy

@tjungu_palya_arts

 

Tjala artist and director Freda Brady, here with one of the Ken Sister works

Tjala artist and director Freda Brady, here with one of the Ken Sister works

 

 

Warmun Art Centre - Shirley Purdie - Galeru (The Water snake) - 2017 - Ochre on canvas

Shirley Purdie – ‘Galeru (The Water snake)’ – Ochre on canvas

Warmun Art Centre 2017

 

 

Polly Anne Smith

Polly Anne Smith

 

 

Karrinyarra-(Mt-Wedge)-digging-for-yalka-(bushonion)-and-#hunting-#goanna-and-walking-across-the-dry-salt-lake

Tjupiarts visiting some of their artists country at Karrinyarra (Mt Wedge), digging for yalka (bushonion) and #hunting #goanna and walking across the dry salt lake

 

 

Gordon Butcher's painting Pikilyli - Vaughn Springs is on show as part of Grounded @parrtjimaaustralia

Gordon Butcher’s painting Pikilyli – Vaughn Springs is on show as part of Grounded @parrtjimaaustralia

 

 

 

 

 

1 Comment

  1. Nancy friedemann
    Posted March 7, 2020 at 4:23 am | Permalink

    This is the most dynamic art I’ve ever seen

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared.